Games can be a very fun and interactive way for students to learn a new language. There are plenty fun and interactive games that can be found online that can help students develope their vocabulary as well as practice sentence structure and grammar. Many students can find these games to be very fun, and they will enjoy playing and studying these games. It is very important for teachers to go through these games before letting the students play them. In my opinion many of the games that are considered to be educational do not really educate students. These games are more for fun than for learning. This is why I believe that it is extremely improtant for a teacher to go through the games. Many of the games that are found online can be very educational for students, plus as an added bonus they can help students improve their technology skills which is very important for students.
Activity 1: Sentence Monkey
One of the activities that I found to be very intersting is called Sentence Monkey and it can be found at this website: http://www.eslgamesplus.com/sentence-monkey/.
This activity can be used in the primary grades to help students build sentences and improve their sentence structure. There are a lot of different games for Sentence Monkey. Students who are at different levels of learning a new language can play games at their levels which will help them succeed. It is also nice that there are differnt topics for the games. Teachers can have students play these games while they are studying in different subjects.
In my classroom, I would adpat the activity to be done in this way. I would have the students build the sentences like they are being asked to do so on the screen. After the students build the sentence, I would have the students write down the sentence in their notebook. Once the game is finished, I would tell the students to rewrite each sentence in their own words. I would have the students do the second activity in their small groups. Those students who are having trouble with forming their own sentences, would be able to get support form their peers. Students would also be encourgaed to used an online dictionary, and thesaraus to help them with words rthat they do not understand or have trouble finding synonyms. Students would be able to build their vocabulary throughout this activity, as well as improving on their skills of how to write a sentence.
Activity 2: Vocabulary Extravaganza:
This is a game that I seen a teacher use in the classroom while I was substituting. I made some minor adaptaions to this game that I believe can enhance student learning. This game can be used in any grade as long as the students have vocaublary words that they have been studying. Students will be separated into groups and each student will be given two vocabulary words. Their job will be to come up with a a short three sentence paragraph using as much vocabulary words as they can.
After five minutes each student will be put in another group. The students in the new groups will have to perform the same task that they did in their first groups. Depending on the amount of time that is left, students will continue with this activity. At the end of class, the students will read off the paragraphs. As a class we will discuss if the words were being used correctly in the paragraph. Students will be encouraged to be creative with their pargraphs, and also to be comical. This should be a way to egage the students in doing this activity.
Activity 1: Sentence Monkey
One of the activities that I found to be very intersting is called Sentence Monkey and it can be found at this website: http://www.eslgamesplus.com/sentence-monkey/.
This activity can be used in the primary grades to help students build sentences and improve their sentence structure. There are a lot of different games for Sentence Monkey. Students who are at different levels of learning a new language can play games at their levels which will help them succeed. It is also nice that there are differnt topics for the games. Teachers can have students play these games while they are studying in different subjects.
In my classroom, I would adpat the activity to be done in this way. I would have the students build the sentences like they are being asked to do so on the screen. After the students build the sentence, I would have the students write down the sentence in their notebook. Once the game is finished, I would tell the students to rewrite each sentence in their own words. I would have the students do the second activity in their small groups. Those students who are having trouble with forming their own sentences, would be able to get support form their peers. Students would also be encourgaed to used an online dictionary, and thesaraus to help them with words rthat they do not understand or have trouble finding synonyms. Students would be able to build their vocabulary throughout this activity, as well as improving on their skills of how to write a sentence.
Activity 2: Vocabulary Extravaganza:
This is a game that I seen a teacher use in the classroom while I was substituting. I made some minor adaptaions to this game that I believe can enhance student learning. This game can be used in any grade as long as the students have vocaublary words that they have been studying. Students will be separated into groups and each student will be given two vocabulary words. Their job will be to come up with a a short three sentence paragraph using as much vocabulary words as they can.
After five minutes each student will be put in another group. The students in the new groups will have to perform the same task that they did in their first groups. Depending on the amount of time that is left, students will continue with this activity. At the end of class, the students will read off the paragraphs. As a class we will discuss if the words were being used correctly in the paragraph. Students will be encouraged to be creative with their pargraphs, and also to be comical. This should be a way to egage the students in doing this activity.